Simplicial resolutions and Ganea fibrations (Q847571)

In this paper, the authors consider two different approximations for a given pointed space \(X\) of the homotopy type of a CW-complex: On the one hand, the Ganea fibrations \(p_n: G_n(X)\to X\) produce a sequence \(\cdots\to G_n(X)\to G_{n+1}X\to\cdots\) which in turn defines a homotopy equivalence \(G_\infty (X)=\lim G_n(X)\to X\). On the other hand, for \(n\geq 1\) and \(i=1,\ldots,n+1\), consider the maps \((\Sigma\Omega)^i(ev_{(\Sigma\Omega)^{n-i}X}): (\Sigma\Omega)^{n+1}\to (\Sigma\Omega)^{n}\), where \(ev_X: \Sigma\Omega X\to X\) is the natural augmentation. For simplicity denote these maps by \(d_i: \Lambda_{n+1}X\to \Lambda_nX\). As \(d_id_j=d_{j-1}d_i\) for \(i<j\), these form a facial resolution of the space \(X\) which produces in a standard way (also shortly and very well explained in the paper under review) a sequence \[ \cdots\to \|\Lambda_*X\|_n\to \|\Lambda_*X\|_{n+1}\to\cdots \] and compatible maps \(q_n: \|\Lambda_*X\|_n\to X\) for which the induced map \(\|\Lambda_*X\|=\lim \|\Lambda_*X\|_n\to X\) is a homotopy equivalence. Then, the authors analyze the relation between these two approximations and show that there is a sequence (\(X\) must be assumed to be simply connected for the existence of the second map) \[ \|\Lambda_*X\|_{n-1}\to G_n(X)\to \|\Lambda_*X\|_{n} \] commuting with \(q_{n-1}\), \(p_n\) and \(q_n\) respectively. For \(n=2\), it is also shown that there is a map \(f: G_2(X)\to \|\Lambda_*X\|_1\) for which \(q_1f\simeq p_2\). As remarked by the authors, this paper opens the door for the comparison, in a more general setting, of structures arising from fibre-cofibre constructions and the realization of facial resolutions. The paper ends with some interesting open questions and the conjecture by which the least \(n\) for which \(q_{n-1}\) has a section equals the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of the space \(X\).